Adjustable seat post



w. L. FODBEA. ADJUSTABLE SEAT POST.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.3I| 1920. I 1,431,109. Patented Oat. 3,1922.

SHEETSQSHEET 1i Will-$8.53 M144 c05 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

W. 'L. FODREA. AD'JUSITABLE SEAT POST. APPLICATION FIVLED AUYG.3I, I920.

Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- O O .O ..o., o O n b II E mrlflmrlrllll ATTORNEY.

WILLIAM LORAN FODREA, OF LITTLE BECK, ARKANSAS.

ADJUSTABLE SEAT 1 035..

Application filed August 31, 1820. Serial Ito/467,135.

T 0 all whom it may conocm Be it known that l, /VILLTAli f L. ll'onmm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Little Rock, in the county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Seat Posts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in seating means and more particularly to the type used in connection with velocipedes and other like machines, the primary object of the invention being to provide seating means so mounted that the angle of inclination thereof may be varied and also to provide means for retaining the seating means in any desired adjusted position, 1

Another important object or" the invention is to provide a device of the above type whereby the seating means may be easily and quickly adjusted to other angles of inclination without necessitating the" use of the hands of a cyclist and which may be retained in the desired adjusted position by exerting pressure thereon, the weight of the cyclist upon the seating means serving to eX- ert a pressure thereon.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a device of the above nature including means whereby the seating means may be locked in the desired adjusted position. v

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device including seating means normally supported out of engagement with the retainer means 'wherebyxth'e former may be readily adjusted without any great eifort upon the part of the cyclist. the means for supporting the seating means in this position being of a nature whereby the seating means may be readily engaged with the retainer means when the weight of the cyclist is imposed on the seatingmeans.

Other object and advantages ofthe 1nvention will become apparent durmg the course of the following; description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like 16, with one end of the spring abutting with parts throughout the several views- Figure'l is a side elevation of a portion of a velocipedeframe.

Figure 2 is a top plan of the same. Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the means for retaining the/seating means in various adjusted positions.

Figure t is a vertical section taken on the line ei t of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a transverse section of said means talren on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a conventional bicycle frame having the invention applied thereto.

Figure 7 is a top plan of the frame, parts thereof being broken away.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the retaining means, and

Figure 9 is transverse section of the same on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the pre ferred embodiment of the invention l have illustrated the use the invention in connection with bicycles but it is of course understood that I do not care to restrict the f the invention to velocipcdes and other like machines as the same may be used squall as well in other connections. In

Figures 1 to 5 inclusive 1 have illustrated the invention as applied to a bicycle frame especially constructed for use in embodying the invention therein, while in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive 1 have shown the invention applied to bicycle frame of the latest conven tional type. In both instances. the frames consist of a pair of horizontal bars 10 and '11 which are connected to front and rear Struts 12 and 1S respectirely the rear struts 13 in the form illustrated in Figures 6 to 9 inclusive being the. one in which the ordinarysaddle post is mounter. The usual rear forks it have been illustrated in this instance,- in view of the fact that the front forks do not co-operate with the present invention.

In the form of the invention illustrated. in Figs. 1 to 5, the seating means consists of a post 15 which is made up of a pair of telescopic members, one of which assumes the form of a rod 16 havingits lower end 17 enlarged and bifurcated whereby the same may straddle and be pivotally connected to the front strut 12 as at 18. ll. coiled spring 19 of the compression type surrounds the rod the enlarged end of the rod, while the opposite end of the coiled spring; abuts with the lower end of the coacting telescopic member indicated by the numeral 20. The telescopic members are prevented from relative turning 1110=,*C-i'lll by the provision 01'? a pin 21 seiured the rod 16 and in an elongated longitudinall 1n the member 20.

l.he means provided f pl e pos 5 forwardly or connected to the enlargement l lescooic member 16 and adapted to y 1". an opening provided in the V i 1 rear strut it leoneor s this rec ,r nd the en- QQIQQ'FT extends ends This rear f 1 l r per horizontal em s and the port ides of the slot' are 111 the form oi channel irons 27, ach- 01' which is bottom with i a l l v flanges. The upper end of the sea is provided with (:Illll which operates t ed hollow head in the rear slotted portion of? tie horiaont 1 bar 10. This head has it" site sides provided with outwardly J 3 the lower ends of the r 8 above the top elf the slotted porot the horizontal bar 10 when the section 20 of the se cost 15 is arran w in its uppermost po ion. c oar-Ely it will. be seen that the seat L be swung longitridinally o'l tr e vary its a? e or inclination and desired to a N 1st the post in any (21' tion. pressure upon the heady 30 is to cause downward M1 inent thereof by the ribs Bl carried] caused enter a pair of the op ositely disposed notches prechidl swi. is; movein l r l post 15 upon its PlVO'o 18.

in. order that the he desired adjusted position, a catch 32 is aivoted within the head 30 to dopenc therethe lower arcuate end having a ls lob th eon disposed e1; eriorly of the head. The catch is p vided with jecting fin er is; which extents through an opening in the head when: the catch is swung into an operative position.

* hen the 11 or the same will be post may be locl-zed in laterally profi'n g er {E l-0t the catch is projected throngh' the opening and the seat member is :torced" u wardly it will be seen that the fin r will be engaaed with one of the lower fl,

c provided npon the portion 27 con-stunting s des oi the slot in the horizontal bar '10. Consequently upward movement ot the tubular member 20 of the post is prohibited.

order that a bicycle saddle of the well known type may be associated with the seat potne upper end of the post 15 is extended wira n t head 30, the up; or end 0t which d w th opening whereby the saddle post 36 may be inserted ;h and into the upper end of the The rear portion of the head 30 1e provide and of therethror post 15.

split and is provided with a pair or" rel at extensions 37 the sections of which O. 1}} I and embodies a post 15 consisting of upper end lower telescopic members 16' and 2 the er member 16 operating within the upor member and having: its lower end pivotconnected to'a bracket 17 fastenedato the lower end of the post strut 13. The upper end of the telescopic member 20 1s Equipped with pair of: spaced arms 39 l ,n are adapted to straddle and be arg cd noon oppositesides of horizontal bars l0 and 11. Slots 40 are provided in the front and rear faces of the telescopic member 20 iereby a pin 41 which is'loosely mounted w in the telescopic member may operate therein. @ne end of the is disposed at rights-e gles to the pin ated at and is adapted to operate eo-operate with the slot in the ovide locking means for retaining the ded with eyelet into which is fastened one end of a coiled spring 43, which by its w .r strut tends to normally retain the post 15 in :torwardmo'st position and the aneular end ot n 11 against the member 20. Th 1s ar k lment ot the angular end in will be normally malntalned by hp. 175" so that the lower ends of the ts 4:0 will be urged into engagement with he p n 41. Consequently, when downward cure is exerted on the seat post 15, the ets h) ar moved downwardly with respect the pin ll and since the spring: 43 norally'piills the pin 41 forwardly, the angu- 1) as t +1; n 7'11 t l a1 one is or this pill n1 spline in o b c slot 40 when the latterare moved tar 'enonszl l down upon the telescopic member to permit the angular end 42 of the pin entertheslot 'andabut the end thereof so arerent the spring 19 moving the seat upwardly. Therefore, it will be ions that the projection 51 will be re- ;ably retained in engagement "with one the op ngs in retainer bar.

T e retainer means in the present type of invention consists of an arcuate bar 45 secured to the frame of the bicycle by having 'ole as the form heretofore disclosed Q 4 post 15 in anydesired adiusted posh ti on The opposite end of the pm 41 is'protion with a clip 4st fastened to the for n 19 normally urging the seat post bent downwardly to pending-flanges 49.

one end fastened to the horizontal bar by a suitable clip 46 as clearly shown. The rear end of the retainer bar is provided with a depending leg 47 which is adapted to be se cured within the upper portion of the tubular post 13. The bar 45 is equipped with a pluralityof longitudinally spaced openings and the longitudinal edges of the bar are provide a pair of de- The arms 39 of the seat post are arcuated rearwardly as clearly seen in Figure 6 to straddle and be arranged in proximity to the retainer bar- 45. 'To the free ends of these arms 39 is secured a head 50 which consists of a roof portion 51 and pair of depending side walls 52 which are adapted to engage the side flanges 49 of the retainer bar for guiding the seat'post. A saddle post 53 rises from the head 50 for the purpose of having secured thereto a saddle-of any desired type. The under side of'the roof 51 is equipped with depending lug or leg 54 adapted for co-operation with any of the spaced openings 48 in the retainer bar. As clearly seen in Figure 8, the spring 19 which bears against the lower end of the telescopic member 20 of the seat post 15 urges the post to a position whereby the lug 54 is dis engaged from the retainer bar whereby the cyclist may readily vary the adjustment of the seat post. However, when it is desired to retain the seat post in an adjusted position, the cyclist manipulates the same to move it forwardly or rearwardly of the bi cycle to the desired point. When one imposes his weight upon the saddle, the telescopic member 20, of the seat post compresses the spring 16, whereupon the leg 54 carried by the head 50 passes through one of the openings 58 in the retainer bar 45. When it is desired to lock the seat post in the desired adjusted position, the angular end 42 of the pin 41 is turned downwardly so that it will be drawn into the slot 40 so that its free end engages the closed end of the slot 40 to prohibit upward movement of the telescopic member 15. However, when it is desired to make a new adjustment of the seat post, the angular end 42 of the pin is moved upwardly whereupon the upper member 15' of the seat post springs upwardly under the force of the spring 16 to disengage the lug 54 from its opening. After the weight of the cyclist has been removed from the post, it immediately springs forwardly to the forward end of the retainer bar under the influence of the spring 43 and this movement is limited by the arms 39 striking the clamp 46. Rearward movement of the seat post is limited by the lug 54 engaging an upturned lip 55 provided upon the rear end of the retainer bar 45.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that this invention renders the propelling of bicycles comparatively easy, inasmuch as the cyclist may position himself relative to the bicycle frame whereby the maximum amount of force may be exerted against the pedals when the seat post is armay be made in construction and arrangement of parts. materials. dimensions, etc., as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim- 1. Seating means movable to vary the angle of: inclination thereof, retainer means adapted for co-operation with the seating means and adapted to retain the latter in va riousadjusted inclined positions, and means for resiliently supporting the seating means to permit relative movementbetween the seating means and the retainer means, and being operable by pressure applied thereto to permit engagement of the seating means with the retainer means for the purpose set forth.

2. Seating means movable vertically and in a direction to vary the angle of inclination thereof, retainer means associated with said seating means, means for normally reraining said sea-ting means disengaged from the retainer means, and means carried by the seating means and engageable with the retainer means to prevent relative movement between the seating means and the retainer means.

3. Seating means comorisin a siorin sup- 0 1 h .L b

ported pivoted seat post, retainer means as sociated therewith, a seat carried by the post, said post being movable vertically relative to the retainer means whereby the post may be engaged with the retainer means when pressure is applied to the post to force it into cooperative engagement with the retainer means.

4. Seating means comprising a pivoted seat post, retainer means associated with said post and having interlocking means disposed at spaced intervals throughout its length, said seat post being movable vertically of the retainer means, and said seat post having a projection adapted for cooperation with the interlocking means when pressure is applied to said post.

5. Seating means comprising a pivoted seat post, retainer means cooperating therewith and having a plurality of spaced notches throughout its length, said seating means being movable'vertically of the retainer means and equipped with an extension adapted to be brought into cooperative engagement with one of the notches when weight is imposed upon the seat post.

6. Seating means comprising a seat post pivotally mounted, retainer means associated therewith and equipped with a slot, the edges of which are-notched, said seat post having a head carried thereby and adapted to ride in the slot of the retainer means when the inclination of the post is varied, said head being provided with a lateral extension normally disposed above the retainer means and adapted to be brought into cooperative engagement with one of the notches when weight is imposed upon the head.

7. Seating means comprising a pivoted seat post, retainer means comprising slotted member having notches associated therewith, a head carried by said seat post and disposed. in the slot of the retainer means, said head being movable vertically of the retainer means and provided with a lateral extension adapted for cooperation with the notches of the retainer means, and latch means carried by the head and adapted for cooperation with the retainer means to retain the head in a lowered position whereby its extension will be retained in engagement with one of said notches.

8. The combination with a velocipede frame including a plurality of struts and a seat post pivotally mounted upon one of the struts, a seat mounted upon the post, a rod pivotally connected to the post and slidably mounted through another of the velocipede struts, a spring positioned upon said rod to normally urge the post forwardly of the frame, and means carried by the post for retaining the same in various adjusted positions with respect to the frame.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

J. B. HUGHEs, W. S. PROBST. 

